Apparatus for punching slat assemblies



Uct. 19, 1965 A. c. TAYLOR APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING SLAT ASSEMB LIES 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21., 1952 Hap, v Q2 n.. .Ef L f FIG@ 1G Oct.19, 1965 A. c. TAYLOR 3,212,164

A'BPARATUS FOR PUNCHING SLAT ASSEMBLIES Filed May 2l, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVENTOR /Q/ffeaj /gcn/L 7230/0# ATTORNEYS United States Patent O3,212,164 APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING SLAT ASSEMBLIES Alfred Charles Taylor,Clayleld, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, assigner to Hunter DouglasInternational (Quebec) Ltd., Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed May 21,1962, Ser. No. 196,410 Claims priority, application Australia, May 22,1961, 4,926/61 5 Claims. (Cl. 29-33) This invention relates to new andimproved apparatus for punching slat assemblies, and it has moreparticular reference to apparatus for punching the rolled-edge joints ofthose types of slat assemblies which have a number of narrow metal slatsjoined side by side in parallel relationship, each slat having eachlongitudinal edge rolled for hooked engagement with an oppositely-rollededge of the slat immediately adjacent on either side to form hingedconnections. Such slat assemblies are widely used for awnings, screens,doors, blinds, roller blinds, roller shutters and the like.

Slat assemblies of these types have been found generally satisfactory intheir various applications, but they have the obvious disadvantage thatthe slats tend to slide longitudinally relative to one another unlessthey are fastened together, and it has therefore become customary topunch or pinch together the rolled sections forming the joint betweeneach pair of slatspreferably near to the end of the joint-this operationtending to impair somewhat the hinging action between the slats but notot such an extent as to detract from the eiiiciency of the assembly forits required applications.

For this purpose, the generally-accepted method yof joining the slatsinvolves either sharply punching the adjacent rolled edges on the innerface of the assembly, such face being the one which is normally disposedinwards or downwards in use, such as by means of the machine describedin my co-pending U.S. patent application Serial No. 147,621, now U.S.Patent No. 3,161,221, or pinching the rolled edges by inserting one jawof an instrument or mandrel into the open end of the joint and thenpressing the other jaw into the rolled edges beyond the first jaw, theeffect in both cases being to express two tongues into the round-sectionspace within the joint.

The apparatus of my aforementioned U.S. patent application Serial No.147,621 is very useful for this purpose as it may be used with ease byeven an unskilled operator to achieve rapid and accurate punching, theinvention in that case consisting broadly in apparatus for punchingrolled-edge joints of slat assemblies, including a punch-mounting frameadapted to be moved transversely across the slat assembly and having anengagement member adapted to engage contact portions of the slats; apunch mounted on the frame and adapted to occupy a punching positionadjacent a slat joint when the engagement member is engaged with acontact portion of a slat, and means for actuating the punch when it isin a punching position so that the adjacent slat joint will be punched.The invention also embraced apparatus of this general type designed tooperate semi-automatically in a most reliable and eflicient manner.

However, securing the slats by either mechanical or manual punching hasthe disadvantages that the tongues or depressed portions do not holdrmly against one another to prevent relative lateral and longitudinalmovement of the slats. Thus, the assembly will not necessarily be firmand stable, and difficulty may be experienced in handling and installingthe assembly, while any longitudinal strains will tend to separate theslats.

To overcome these disadvantages associated with punched, rolled-edgejoints, the invention of co-pending 3,212,164 Patented Oct. 19, 1965U.S. patent application Serial No. 157,735, now abandoned, was devisedto ensure that a slat assembly will have its slats maintained in thestate of firmness in which they are held during punching or pinching, agreater resistance to relative longitudinal sliding being obtained, theinvention also dispensing with the need for using a mandrel to supportthe rolled edges during punching in cases where such a mandrel waspreviously considered necessary. To achieve these objects, the inventionof aforesaid U.S. patent application Serial No. 157,735 resided broadlyin a slat joint in which a pair of oppositelyrolled longitudinal edgesof adjacent slats are engaged to define a central space of substantiallyround cross-section, characterized by the provision in the space of alongitudinally-arranged plug of substantially constant crosssection andof non-brittle but dentable material engaged and dented by the innertongue of two tongues of the rolled edges punched or otherwise expressedinto the space from the normally-underneath face of the joint, the plugbeing of such nature that it is gripped between the said inner tongueand the opposite periphery of the central space and acts to maintain thetwo tongues in radial contact. Slat joints of this type and the plugsused therein will be hereinafter referred to as the type described. Asdescribed in patent specification Serial No. 157,735 a very suitableform of plug is a strip of round-section plastic material, such aspolyvinylchloride, preferably having a diameter slightly less than thediameter of the space within a joint.

My present invention aims to provide further improvements relating tothe punching of slat assemblies, and it has for its principal object theprovision of apparatus of relatively simple and inexpensive constructionwhich may be easily used to insert plugs of the type described into thespaces between the rolled edges of the joints prior to punching of thejoints to form an assembly having joints of the type described.

Another object of the invention is to employ impr-ovements of theaforementioned character in conjunction with a machine using theprinciples of that disclosed in my patent application Serial No. 147,621so that plugs (preferably of plastic or similar strip material) may beinserted into successive joints prior to the joints being punchedsuccessively by the said machine. Other objects and advantages of theinvention will be hereinafter apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention residesbroadly in apparatus for use in punching or indenting rolled-edge jointsof slat assemblies, of the type in which means are provided forsupporting a slat assembly so that the ends of the slats aretransversely aligned whereby a punch may be moved across the joints onthe normally-underneath face of the assembly on a line parallel to thealigned ends of the slats and may be actuated to punch successivejoints; characterized in that there are provided stock supply meansconstituting a supply of plugs of the type described, and feed meansadapted to be actuated to feed plugs in succession from the magazinemeans, the feed means being adapted to be moved successively past theends of the joints and to be actuated at each joint to insert a plugtherein prior to actuation of the punch on the respective joint. Otherfeatures of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put intopractical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of Slat-punching apparatus in accordancewith the invention, fitted to one end of an assembly-supporting tablewhich is shown broken away, the feed-mechanism of the apparatus beingshown in two portions which are illustrated in vertically-separatedrelationship for the purpose of clarity;

FIGURE la is a fragmentary side elevational view of a detail of thefeeding mechanism of FIGURE 1.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of portion of the apparatus, taken along theline 2--2 of FIG. 1, but showing the feed-mechanism in assembledoperative location, and

FIG. 3 is an end view of a pair of slats on the table, the jointtherebetween having an inserted plug ready for punching to form a jointof the type described.

FIGURE 4 represents the electrical connections between the electriccomponents used in the novel apparatus.

In the drawings, there is shown one end of a flat, rectangular tablemounted on legs (not shown) and supporting a slat assembly 11 of whichthe slat joints are to be punched or indented. The end of the table 10which is shown is provided with Slat-punching apparatus, as illustrated,while it is to be understood that the other end of the table which isnot shown also has thereon Slat-punching apparatus which is of identicalbut oppositely-arranged construction.

The slat assembly 11 is of normal rectangular shape, being made up of aseries of parallel narrow metal slats 12 of arcuate cross-section, eachof which has its longitudinal edges oppositely rolled, each edge of aslat 12 being engaged hingedly with an oppositely-rolled edge of anadjacent slat to form a joint 13. As shown in FIG. 3, each slat 12 hasone edge 14 simply rolled in the direction of curvature of the slat, butthe other edge 1S is oppositely rolled adjacent a longitudinal shoulder16 of the slat, with the result that the joints 13 protrude on that sideof the assembly 11 on which the slats 12 have their centres ofcurvature. This is the inner side of the assembly, whereas the other orouter side of the assembly is that which is normally arranged to faceupwards in an assembled awning. As previously mentioned, the joints 13are to be punched on their inner faces, and the assembly 11 is thereforedisposed on the table 10 so that the inner side thereof faces upwards,the protruding joints 13 then also facing upwards.

At the end or transverse edge of the table 10, there is xedly mounted anedge-mounting strip 17 lying flat along the edge of the table andextending inwards for a short distance, while a vertical edge-retainingbar 18 is secured outwardly thereof so that the end of the slat assembly11 may lie on the strip 17 with the ends of the slats 12 retained on thetable and aligned transversely thereof by the edge-retaining bar 18.Each end of the edgemounting strip 17 extends beyond the table 10 andhas secured thereto at right angles a horizontal, longitudinal andoutwardly-extending supporting bar 19 (only one of which is shown inFIG. 1) having at its outer end a mounting block 20 for a transverseguide rod 21 arranged parallel to the edge-mounting strip 17 but spacedoutwardly thereof and at a slightly higher level. It is to be understoodthat the word longitudinal is used herein relative to the direction ofthe length of the table 10 and slats 12, while transverse has referenceto the direction at right angles to or across the table 10 and slats 12.

Mounted for sliding movement along the guide rod 21 is a punch-mountingframe, indicated generally by the numeral 22. For this purpose, there isprovided a pivot sleeve 23 closely slidable along the guide rod 21 andpivotable thereabout, the sleeve 23 also passing through and welded toan upstanding longitudinal frame arm 24 which extends over theedge-mounting strip 17 but may be raised above the strip 17 and movedpivotally clear thereof outwardly of the end of the table 10 by pivotingthe sleeve 23 about the guide rod 21. For this purpose, there isprovided at one side of the frame arm 24, hereinafter referred to as thefront side, a weighted block 25 adapted to hold the frame arm 24normally over the strip 17, but the frame arm 24 may be pivoted asaforementioned about the guide rod 21 by manually gripping and liftingthe punch-mounted frame 22, a suitable upward control rod (not shown)being provided on the block 25 for this purpose, if so desired. At thesame time, a draw-control rod 26 extends forward from the frame arm 24and has a front hand-lever 27 whereby the frame arm 24 andpunch-mounting frame 22 may be drawn backwards or forwards transverselywith sliding movement of the pivot sleeve 23 along the guide rod 21.

Secured to the front face of the frame arm 24 above the strip 17 andextending rearward thereof is a mounting bracket 28 for apunch-actuating solenoid 29, the latter being supported thereon with itscore 30 arranged in vertically slidable manner. The upper end of thesolenoid core 30 extends freely above the housing for the coil of thesolenoid 29, while the lower end 31 of the solenoid core 30 passesthrough an aperature in the solenoid-mounting bracket 28 and istherefore free to move reciprocally past and parallel to the main planeof the frame arm 24 directly above the edge-mounting strip 17. A bar 32through the lower end 31 of the solenoid core 30 has at each end a lighttension spring 33 extending vertically upwards and connected to arespective upper mounting hook 34 secured to a top plate of the coilhousing of the punch-actuating solenoid 29. Thus, the solenoid core 30will normally be maintained in the uppermost position shown in FIG. l bythe action of the springs 33 except when the solenoid 29 is actuated ashereinafter described.

To the rear face of the frame arm 24 directly beneath the solenoid core30, there is secured a punch-mounting block 35 having therethrough avertical, round-section aperture coaxial with the solenoid core 30, thisaperture slidably housing a rod-like, plunger type punch 36 having acoaxial, tapered punch-tip at its lower end for performing the requiredpunching operations on a slat joint 13. The upper end of the punch 36extends above the top of the punch-mounting block 35 so that its upperextremity may be struck by the descending solenoid core 30, and it hasfixed to its upper end a yoke member 37.

The front end of the yoke member 37 has a vertical guide apertureslidably accommodating a vertical guide pin 38, extending upwards fromthe punch-mounting block 35, a compression spring (not shown) encirclingthe pin 38 between the yoke 37 and block 35 and acting normally tomaintain the yoke 37 in uppermost position. The rear end of the yoke 37has a vertical, screw-threadedly adjustable clearance screw 39 disposedclear of the outer side of the punch-mounting block 35 by virtue of theangular disposition of this end of the yoke 37, as illustrated in FIG.l.

On the outer side of the punch-mounting block 35, there is a horizontalpivot pin 40 providing a pivot axis for a trip-mounting block 41arranged parallel to the block 35 and adapted to be moved pivotally in atransverse plane. The lower section of the trip-mounting block 41beneath the pivot pin 40 has a lengthwise bore housing a slidable triprod 42 which extends from each end thereof, the front end of the triprod 42 being provided with a guide and stabilising device to preventrotation of the rod. The rear end of the trip rod 42 is spring-loaded sothat it will normally be urged in a forward direction, and there issecured to the rear end of the trip rod 42 a safety-catch arm 43 whichextends forwards and is guided for sliding movement with and parallel tothe trip rod 42. The pivot pin 40 is disposed towards the front end ofthe trip-mounting block 41, the latter having a tension spring 44connecting its front end to the block 35 so that the trip-mounting block41 will normally be held pivotally raised at its rear end, the clearancescrew 39 then en-l gaging against and within a recess in the uppersurface of the block 41, as illustrated. Since trip block 41 is held bythe spring 44 in a position so that its rear end is lifted upwardswhereas its front end is inclined toward the slat assembly disposed onthe supporting table, the

front end of trip-rod 42 is normally lower than a joint between adjacentslats 12. Consequently, when the punch mounting frame or main frame 22is moved along guiding rod 21, the front end of push rod 42 engages thenext slat joint and moves rearwards within the bore of trip-block 41against the action of the spring coupled with rod 42. Thus furthermovement of frame 22 is prevented when rod 42 is pushed into its rearend position. In this manner frame 22 can be stopped in a definite,desired position relative to the slat assembly. Further features andfunctions of the trip block 42 will be described later.

Near to the free inner end of the main frame arm 24, the punch-mountingblock is provided with a slide shoe 45 secured adjustably as to heightby means of bolts in slotted holes. The slide shoe 45 has a nonabra-sivelower contact surface adapted to ride across the slat joints 13 so thatthe latter may support the punch-mounting frame 22 during slidingmovement. Directly above the edge-retaining bar 18, there is 4a roller46 mounted to the front side of frame arm 24 by means of a bracketextending from arm 24 in forward direction. Roller 46 is adapted toengage upon the top surface of the bar 18 to take the weight of theframe 22 when there is no slat assembly on the table, and also adaptedto ride up and along a ramp 47 at the rear end of the edge-retaining bar18 so that the trip rod 42 will be carried across and above the rearmostedge of the slat assembly 11 without engaging same,

In addition to the aforementioned components which constitute thepunching-mechanism of the apparatus, I provide a feed mechanism forinserting plastic plugs of the type described into the open ends of thejoints 13 adjacent the edge-retaining bar 18, and also a hammermechanism for preparing a preceding joint for the insertion of a plug.

The hammer mechanism includes a transverse pivot bolt 48 on the mainframe arm 24 above and outwardly of the punch-mounting block 35, therebeing pivotable about this bolt l48 a bearing sleeve 49 having securedthereto an inwardly-extending actuating lever arm 5f) and adownwardly-extending hammer arm 51. The inner end of the actuating leverarm 50 -is pivotally connected to the lower end of a core 52 of ahammer-actuating solenoid 53, the core 52 being arranged for verticalmovement in the same way as the punch-actuating solenoid core 30 exceptthat the core 52 is normally lowermost under the influence of gravityand the weight of the lever arm 50, the operating direction of the core52 being upwards as opposed to the downward operating direction of thepunch-actuating solenoid core 30. The hammer-actuating solenoid 53 isalso mounted on the mounting bracket 28 but inwardly thereof. The lowerend of the hammer arm 51 is weighted and has a tapered hammer pin 54directed longitudinally inwards, the pin 54 being arranged to movethrough an arc to a horizontal innermost position in which it enters andopens out the preceding joint when the solenoid 53 is actuated, the saidpreceding joint being the one immediately in front of the one to bepunched, that is, the one which is engaged by the lower front end of thetrip rod 42 at any time.

The feed mechanism for plastic plugs is designed for two successivemovements, the first being to move a feed nozzle into the end of thejoint to be punched, and the second being to feed a strip of plasticmaterial, constituting a plug, through the nozzle and into the joint.The feed mechanism includes a lowermost chassis plate 55 pivotallyconnected to the guide rod 21 just in rear 4of the main frame arm 24,the pivot sleeve 23 having, for this purpose, a pair of spaced collars56 between which a further sleeve 57 may pivot coaxially, this lattersleeve 57 having a pair of lower fixed vertical hinge arms 58 with apivot pin 59 passing horizont-ally and transversely through apertures intheir lower ends. Similar hinge arms 60 extend inwards from the pivotpin 59 and are 6 secured to a transverse mounting bar 61 which in turnis secured tothe top of the chassis plate 55.

The inner edge of the chassis plate 55 has fixed thereto anupwardly-extending bracket 62 closely adjacent the edge-retaining bar18, a slide shoe 63 on the bracket 62 having an outer portion 64 adaptedto rest on the bar 18 to define the lowermost position of the chassisplate 5S and feed mechanism generally. The slide shoe 63 also has aninner portion 65 which extends downwards on the inner side of theedge-retaining bar 18 and is intended to rest, in operation, on the endedges of the slats 12, the shoe 63 then being slightly raised as a wholefrom the said lowermost position. The bracket 62 also has a locating lug66 extending inwards and adapted to engage closely between a pair oflugs (not shown) transversely adjustable along the punch-mounting block35, so that the transverse location of the feed mechanism relative tothe punching mechanism may be fixed and suitably adjusted.

Directly above and parallel to the chassis plate 55 is a feed-mechanismslide plate 67 adapted to be moved inwards to move the aforementionedfeed nozzle into an open end of a joint 13. For this purpose, the slideplate 67 has secured to its lower surface a grooved slide block 68adapted to slide inwards along a longitudinal guide bar 69 which islocated slidably in the groove of the block 68, the guide bar 69 beingsecured at its inner end to the inner bracket 62 for the slide shoe 63and at its outer end to the mounting bar 61 by means of a mounting lug78. In order to move the slide plate 67 relative to the chassis plate55, there is a transverse cam bar 71 between the two plates 55 and 67and having a plain outer edge movable along and against rollers 72mounted on xed vertical axles on the mounting bar 61, while the inneredge of the cam bar 71 is stepped inwards at 73 towards its rear andbears against a roller 74 rotatable about a vertical axis on the outerarm 75 of a bell-crank 76. The latter has its fulcrum 77 towards theback end of the chassis plate 55, the outer arm 75 extending forwardsand outwards, while the other or inner arm 78 extends forwards andinwards.

When the cam bar 71 is pulled forwards, its stepped portion in rear ofthe step 73 will engage the roller 74 of the bell-crank 76 to move ltheouter arm 75 pivotally inwards, the other crank arm 78 then also movingpivotally inwards so that its front end 7 9 will engage a lug 80 on andbeneath the grooved slide block 68 to move the slide plate 67 inwards torequired extent, thus moving the nozzle i81, on and protruding inwardsfrom the inner edge of the slide plate 67, through a respective aperture82 in the edge-retaining bar 18 and so into the relevant joint 13. Asshown in FIG. l, the edge-retaining bar 18 has along it a series ofapertures 82 each registering with the end of a slat joint 13. The innerarm 78 of the bell-crank 76 is formed in part by a spring-steel strip 83acting to urge the front end upwards against the lug under normalconditions, while the bell-crank 76 is also fitted with a tension spring84 which acts to urge it normally outwards.

Mounted on the main frame arm 24 at 85 is a mounting bracket 86 for arotatable spool 87 for plastic lashing of solid round section, and thefree end of the plastic strip is passed from the spool 87 through guidegrommets 88 attached to the sleeve and then between parallel ar| cuateguide members 89 on the upper surface of the slide plate 67, and thenunder a normally-raised guillotine 98 before passing through the nozzle81 which constitutes a holder for a cut length of strip materialconstituting a plug. The nozzle 81 is arranged longitudinally to be ableto enter each slot joint 13 in a longitudinal sliding action. A feed arm91 is pivoted about a vertical axis 92 at the rear of the slide plate 67and has its front end directly over the plastic strip between thearcuate guide members 89, this arm 91 being adapted to turn through thearc of the guide members 39 so that a feed pawl 93 on the front end ofthe arm will grip the top surface of the plastic strip and feed ittowards the nozzle 81 as the arm 91 swings from outer to innerpositions. On the return or outward movement of the feed arm 91, thepawl 93 disengages and slides along the plastic strip, while another orouter pawl 94 tixedly mounted on the slide plate 67 engages the plasticstrip and prevents return movement thereof.

Pawl 93 is designed principally as represented by FIG- URE la. A ap 93ais pivotally mounted in the U- shaped head of feed-ing arm 91 by meansof studs 9311 protruding beyond the width of flap 93a inserted intoopposite openings provided in the opposite walls of head 93. Whenfeeding arm 91 is moved toward the rail member or edge retaining member18 in direction of arrow M, the lower edge of flap 93a engages thestrip-like material underneath thereof guided by the arcuate guidemembers 89. A pin 93e prevents flap 93a from assuming a strictlyvertical position so that it extends at an angle relative to a linenormal to the strip like material. Movement of head 93 in direction ofarrow M causes flap 93a to swing in direction of arrow x whereby the gapbetween the lower edge of flap 93a and the surface of plate 67 receivingthe strip-like material is decreased so that the strip like material issafely clamped to such an extent that it follows the movement of thefeeding arm 91 towards the slat assembly.

When feeding arm 91 is released and returns to its initial position dueto the action of spring 118, Hap 93a is capable of swinging in adirection opposite to arrow x thereby increasing the gap between itslower edge and plate 67, so that pawl 93 is disengaged from the stripwhich does not follow the return movement of arm 91. Similarexplanations are true for pawl 94, which principally is designed andfunctions in the same manner as pawl 93.

In operation, the complete apparatus may be drawn forwards from itsrearmost position by the hand lever 27 so that the roller 46 engages theramp 47 to move past the first joint, the apparatus then moving down sothat the main slide shoe 45 engages the slats. The arrangement is suchthat the upward position of the trip-mounting block 41 under the actionof the spring 44 causes the front end of the trip -rod 42 to belowerrnost to engage the next joint, and when the trip rod 42 is thendepressed rearwards, the attached safety-catch arm 43 also movesrearwards so that the front end of the latter moves rearwards relativeto a lug 95 on the slide plate 67, this lug 95 having previously beenobstructed vby the safetycatch arm 43 to prevent inward movement of theslide plate 67. At the rearmost position of the trip rod 42, the punch36 is located directly over the joint, and the hammer pin 54 is locatedin longitudinal alignment-with the next joint in front of that to bepunched. Thus, only when the punching assembly is correctly locatedabove a joint, can the slide plate 67 be moved inwards to feed a plasticplug into the joint.

The hand lever 27 has a grip-like action to pull forwards a flexiblecable 96 in a cable sheath 97 which extends from the hand lever 27 tothe front end of the mounting bar 61. The rear end of the cable 96 isattached to an upstanding front flange 98 of the cam bar 71 to be pulledforwards to move the slide plate 67 inwards by means of the bell-crank76, the plate 67 moving inwards against the action of the spring 84,while the nozzle 81 enters the joint end which is in the punchingposition.

The upper end of the front ange 98 of the cam bar 71 has an aperture 100through which extends the front end 101 of a transverse pull-rod 102directly above the earn bar 71. Pull rod 102 is longitudinally slidablewithin opening 100 of flange 98. During the aforementioned inwardmovement of the slide plate 67, that is, away from the guiding rod 21toward the edge retaining member 18, the ange 98 moves idly forwardsalong the pull-rod 102, so that there is a lost-motion effect on thepull-rod during the tirst stage of movement of the cable 96. However, onthe second stage of pulling the cable 96 and cam bar 71, the frontflange 98 engages an adjustable nut 103 on the pull-rod 102 to urge thepull-rod forwards to operate the feed devi-ce for the plastic stripmaterial. The rear end of the pull-rod 102 is connected pivotally at 104to two inner and outer levers 105 and 106 respectively, the outer lever106 having its outer end pivoted at 107 to the -slide plate 67, whilethe inner lever 105 has its inner end pivoted at 108 to the feed arm 91.The inner lever has its inner end disposed forwardly of the outer end sothat as the pull-rod 102 is drawn forwards, the feed arm 91 will becaused to swing inwards to feed the plastic strip inwards and displace apreceding plug from the nozzle and into the slat joint.

It will be appreciated that this plug-feed motion therefore takes placesubsequent to the movement of the slide plate 67 to insert the nozzle81, so that the line of motion of the pull-rod 102 for this finalinsertion is inwardly of its initial position, and the pull-rod isprovided with an upstanding lug 109 adapted, in the foremost position ofthe pull-rod, to engage a button 110 of a micro-switch 111 disposed onthe rear face of the main frame arm 24 in the line of final operativemotion of the pull-rod 102. The micro-switch 111 is electricallyconnected to both the solenoids 29 and 53 so that actuation of theswitch cause the punch-actuating solenoid core 30 to move downwards tostrike the punch 36, and the hammer-actuating solenoid core 52 movesupwards to cause the hammer mechanism to operate as previouslydescribed.

The punch-actuating solenoid 29 will cause the slat joint to be punchedby the punch 36, and at the same time, as the punch 36 moves downwards,the attached yoke 37 and clearance screw 39 will move similarly so thatthe screw 39 will strike the trip-mounting block 41 and cause it topivot about the pivot pin 40 to clear the front end of the trip rod 42from the joint so that its forward return will move it across the top ofthe punched joint ready for engagement with the next joint as theapparatus is drawn further forwards. The yoke 37 also has anoutwardly-extending arm 112 carrying a verticallyadjustable screw 113adapted to strike the top of a Vertically and pivotally movable blade114 of the guillotine 90 so that the next length of plastic strip in thenozzle will be severed at the outer end of the nozzle to form a plugready for pushing into the next joint through the nozzle on the nextoperation.

Also, as the guillotine blade 114 descends, a lug 115 thereon depressesa vertical spring-loaded rod 116 which passes slidably through anaperture in the -slide plate 67 and pushes the inner bell-crank arm 78downwards to clear the engagement lug 80, the slide plate 67 then beingimmediately withdrawn by a spring 117 to initial position. The movementof the slide plate 67 also removes the pull-rod 102 outwards from itsengagement with the micro-switch 111 so that the solenoids 29 and 53 aredeenergised. In consequence, all components will be returned to theirinitial positions, so that the hand-grip 27 may be used to draw theapparatus to the next joint, whereupon the Sequence of operations isrepeated. The return of the feed arm 91 to outer position is effected bya tension spring 118, as shown in FIG. 1.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be moditied to operate invarious ways. For example, there could be separate manual actuations ofseparate punching and insertion mechanisms at each joint, or theapparatus could be arranged by means of suitable electrical or otherconnections to operate automatically as it is drawn forwards by a simpleknob, the lever-type handgrip thus being dispensed with. Also, forstable mounting of the slat assembly 11 in a stretched condition, Iprovide suitable hooks along the rear edge of the table to engage therearmost longitudinal ange of the rearmost slat. At the front end of theslat assembly, the guide rod 21 has a carefully-Iitted but loose sleeve119 with a catch bar 121D arranged as a hook thereon for engagement withthe foremost slat or any other slat in front of the machine, a hand knob121 enabling the bar 120 to be drawn forwards to stretch the assembly,the bar when released remaining in this position because the bore of thesleeve 119 will cause a lever-type catch action. In the particular formof apparatus shown in the drawings, there is a switch 122 on the framearm 24 whereby the apparatus may be converted for operation in themanner described in my `co-pending U.S. Patent appli-cation, Serial No.147,621 for use in punching the slat joints only, the plastic then beingremoved from the nozzle and the punching solenoid 29 acting alone byengagement of the rear end of the trip rod 42 with a micro-switch 123,as the apparatus is drawn forwards by the hand grip 27 without any leveraction.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the electrical connections between the electricelements 29, 53, 111, 122, and 123. Block 29a symbolizes a source forsupplying the energy to energize the electromagnets 29 and 53. In theshown position of switch 122, actuation of micro-switch 111 connectsmagnets 29 and 53 in parallel with the source of energy 29a so, thatpunch 36 is operated and lever 51 is pivoted about pivot bolt 48. Ifswitch 122 is brought into its other condition by moving themechanically coupled contacts lin direction z, magnet 53 is disconnectedand magnet 29 is energized when micro-switch 123 is actuated by the rearend of push rod 42.

While apparatus as described will therefore be found very effective inachieving the objects for which the invention has been devised, it willbe understood that many modifications -of constructional detail anddesign may be made without departing from the scope and ambit of theinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for securing with each other individual slats of slatassemblies having narrow metal slats connected to each other in parallelrelationship by rolled edge joints with open ends, comprising asupporting table having a supporting surface to receive the slatassembly, at least one rail member having an upper guiding edge mountedto one side of said table in a direction transverse to the longitudinaldirection of individual slats of a slat assembly disposed on said tableand protruding with said upper guiding edge beyond the supportingsurface so to align and guide the ends of individual slats abuttingthereagainst, said rail member having a plurality of slots extending-parallel with the longitudinal direct-ion of said rail member andadapted to be in register with the open ends of said rolled edge joints,guiding means extending substantially parallel with said rail member, amain frame slidable in a direction parallel to said rail member mountedon and pivotally about said guiding means and mounted slidably alongsaid rail member, a stock supply means associated with said main framefor supplying strip-like material, means for enlarging the mouths ofopen joint ends, cutting means to sever plug sections of said strip-likematerial to be inserted as plugs into said open joint ends, feedingmeans associated with said main frame -for feeding ysaid strip-likematerial supplied by said stock supply means toward said open ends ofsaid joints and subsequently to force said plug sections into saidenlarged open joint ends, punching means mounted on said frame andslidable therewith for indenting the joints between assembled slatsafter insertion of plug sections into said joints, means to actuate saidfeeding means, driving means for actuating said punching means and saidenlarging means, means to operate said driving means subsequent toactuation of said feeding means, a coupl-ing member connected with saidpunching means for operating said cutting means when said punching meansis actuated.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said feeding means has afeeding plate and a nozzle fixedly mounted thereto, said nozzle adaptedto receive said plug sections and to register with one of said openjoint ends, said cutting means ixedly mounted to said feeding plate, oneend of said nozzle adjacent a respective joint end and the other endthereof adjacent said cutting means, a feeding arm pivotally mounted onsaid feeding plate and adapted to engage said strip of material whenmoved toward said rail member and to disengage from said strip ofmaterial when moved in opposite direction, said means to actuate saidfeeding means associated with said feeding plate for moving same in adirection Itransverse to said rail member toward a corresponding jointend and associated with said feeding arm for pivoting same toward saidnozzle in engagement with said strip of material after movement of saidplate so as to -force a plug section received in said nozzle from saidnozzle into a joint is register therewith and to insert new stripmaterial into said nozzle.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said guiding means has arod extending in spaced apart relationship from said 1rail member andparallel thereto, said main frame pivotally mounted about said rod, asliding shoe secured to said main frame and normally resting on said-slat assembly disposed on said supporting table so to support said mainframe on said slat assembly during its travel therealong.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means to actuate saidfeeding means has a handle associated with said main frame for movingsame along said rail member, said handle having a finst and a second legpivoted with respect to each other, a cable connected with one of saidlegs for moving said feeding plate and for pivoting said feeding arm bymeans of pivoting said one leg with respect to the other leg.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said enlarging means hasa lever mounted to said main frame pivotally about an axis parallel tosaid rail member and a tapered hammer member associated with the freeend of said lever, the tapered .end of said hammer adapted to registerwith an open joint end preceding an open joint end in a position to beprovided with a plug section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 940,575 11/09Bambauer 83-553 1,888,843 11/32 Anderson 153-1 2,808,640 10/57 Biddison29-33.91 2,839,824 6/58 Berg 153-1 X 2,880,777 4/59 Perri 153-13,092,957 6/ 63 Larkin 29-525 RICHARD H. EANES, IR., Primary Examiner.LEON PEAR, Examiner.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR SECURING WITH EACH OTHER INDIVIDUAL SLATS OF SLATASSEMBLIES HAVING NARROW METAL SLATS CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER IN PARALLELRELATIONSHIP BY ROLLED EDGE JOINTS WITH OPEN ENDS, COMPRISING ASUPPORTING TABLE HAVING A SUPPORTING SURFACE TO RECEIVE THE SLATASSEMBLY, AT LEAST ONE RAIL MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER GUIDING EDGE MOUNTEDTO ONE SIDE OF SAID TABLE IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINALDIRECTION OF INDIVIDUAL SLATS OF A SLAT ASSEMBLY DISPOSED ON SAID TABLEAND PROTRUDING WITH SAID UPPER GUIDING EDGE BEYOND THE SUPPORTINGSURFACE SO TO ALIGN AND GUIDE THE ENDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL SLATS ABUTTINGTHEREAGAINST, SAID RAIL MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF SLOTS EXTENDINGPARALLEL WITH THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID RAIL MEMBER AND ADAPTEDTO BE IN REGISTER WITH THE OPEN ENDS OF SAID ROLLED EDGE JOINTS, GUIDINGMEANS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID RAIL MEMBER, A MAINFRAME SLIDABLE IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID RAIL MEMBER MOUNTED ONAND PIVOTALLY ABOUT SAID GUIDING MEANS AND MOUNTED SLIDABLY ALONG SAIDRAIL MEMBER, A STOCK SUPPLY MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MAIN FRAME FORSUPPLYING STRIP-LIKE MATERIAL, MEANS FOR ENLARGING THE MOUTHS OF STOCKSUPPLY MEANS TOWARD SAID OPEN ENDS OF SAID JOINTS SAID STRIP-LIKEMATERIAL TO BE INSERTED AS PLUGS INTO SAID FRAME FOR FEEDING SAIDSTRIP-LIKE MATERIAL SUPPLIED BY SAID OPEN JOINT ENDS, CUTTING MEANS TOSEVER PLUG SECTIONS OF